Broken Garter Scarf

Garter stitch is a beginner’s best friend, and even for the most seasoned knitters, it holds an important place in our repertoire of stitch patterns. Cecelia Campochiaro reminds me of this in her beautifully designed book, Sequence Knitting.

Sequence Knitting brings to life the modular and algorithmic nature of repeating simple combinations of knits and purls. We’ve put these methods to the test with this Broken Garter Scarf, which is just one line of a repeating pattern. In Purl Soho’s elegant Mulberry Merino, the result is a texture as soothing to behold, as it is to create!

It isn’t often that such a groundbreaking reference book comes along, and Sequence Knitting has secured a prime spot on my bookshelf. If you’re interested in the story behind this book, I highly recommend Cecelia’s interview for Woolful. And to put the concepts into practice, start with our Broken Garter Scarf! -Laura

Update: New Color

March 9, 2017

The soothing hypnotism of our Broken Garter Scarf pairs perfectly with our lustrous Mulberry Merino. And in our new heather-ed Wheat Flour color, the result is subtle and totally classic. Click here for more information and additional photos!

How lovely! I’ve got 690 yards of a sport weight that I’d like to use from my stash. That would work for this pattern, correct? It just wouldn’t end up being 78″ long…which is fine. Thank you for your help!!

I was wondering if that first slipped stitch is just for the purpose of the selvedge or does it effect the pattern? I love this scarf and plan on knitting it for someone as a Christmas gift. Thanks in advance for your response.

Thanks for writing in! The slipped stitch is to create a nice, neat selvedge. If you would like to omit it and slip the last stitch, your Row 2 will change to: *k3, p1 k2, repeat from * to last stitch, slip 1 knitwise. We think that the slip stitch is helpful to keep edges consistent.

Thanks for the question. Fingering weight yarn gauge is usually 7 stitches per inch, so in order to make the scarf about 9″ wide you’ll need to cast on around 63 stitches. Since this pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 1, you’ll probably want to cast on around 67 stitches. Hope this helps!

Thanks for writing in! For this lovely scarf, there is no wrong or right side. Both sides are exactly the same. After you complete row 1, you will repeat row 2 as written for the remainder of the scarf. This will create the pattern as you see it in the pictures above.

Hi,
Would this pattern show up if I were using a chunkier weight yarn. I’ve got 2 skeins of Malabrigo (100% pure merino super wash, 150 g) that I’d like to use. But it’s pretty thick wool. Would this pattern work for something like that? On size 15 needles?
Thanks,
Karen

Thanks for writing in! This pattern will certainly show up using chunkier yarn. I would suggest using needles that are recommended for the yarn that you have and knit a gauges swatch. This pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches, so once you know how many stitches you have per inch, you can decide on your cast on number based on how wide you would like the scarf to be!

First off-I’m a NEWBIE to knitting-
so I hope this isn’t a stupid question-
I would love to make this into a large wrap. So how many stitches/skeins would I be starting with?
Any advise from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You

Thanks for writing in! You can certainly make this scarf into a a larger wrap. The amount of yarn and cast on number depends on the measurements that you are hoping to achieve. If you let us know, we can help you figure out a cast on number and an estimation of the amount of yarn that you will need.

This scarf is lovely, and perfect for a beginner like me. Since I live in a milder climate, could you suggest a lighter weight yarn, something that would work on a cool evening?
Thank you so much,
Myra

Thanks for writing in! The great thing about this pattern is that you can easily modify to work with any yarn. This pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches so long as you adhere to that formula, you can change to any yarn that you would like! I think that it would be lovely using Euroflax or Cotton Pure. In both cases, it would be wise to knit a gauge swatch to see how many stitches per inch you are getting and adjust the cast on number accordingly!

Love this pattern. Do you think this pattern will work for a man? If not, could you suggest another? Would you recommend a different yarn, perhaps one without shine? Lastly, because it would be for a man, should the scarf width and/or length be altered? Thank you so much for taking time to help and advise.

Thanks for writing in! This scarf would look great on a man or a woman! I have seen both wear this scarf using this yarn in colors to suit the wearer. I would suggest selecting a color that would look good on the recipient and go for it! If you would like to use an alternate yarn, you certainly could. Flax Down would work well here and you would need 3 skeins and could knit it as written. If you would like to make it wider or longer, you may need further skeins. The great thing about this pattern is that it works over a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches, so you can modify it as you like!

Thanks for writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulty. Based on when you are saying, it may be that you have cast on too few stitches or perhaps have missed a stitch in the repeat. I would recount your stitches and be sure that you are completing the pattern in the correct numbers. If you continue to experience difficulties, please feel free to write back in!

Thanks for writing in! This pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches. For example 6 x 8 = 48 and 48 + 1 = 49. So to add about an inch (a little over) to the width of this scarf, you would add 6 stitches to the cast on number. If you would like to go wider, simply add multiples of 6 stitches to the original cast on number and you will be good to go!

I love the look of this – I attempted to do it smaller – with 28 stitches but have ended up with extra rib stripes !? If I wanted to do a thinner scarf how many stitches do I need to do to get the same pattern ?

Hi Beth,
Thank you for reaching out! If you want to alter the size of this scarf all you have to do is cast on a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches. For example if you want a skinnier scarf you could cast 31 stitches.
Hope this helps!
-Marilla

Hello! Thanks for such beauty in simplicity pattern! And Ballet Pink or Dark Loam are the best collors for it. So I have one question: what does you mean – 3 skeins? In my country I can buy yarn balls weight 50g or 100g. But I did’t find weight information about Purl Soho’s Mulberry Meryno. So how many yarn need for this scarf (in gramms)?
Elena.

Thanks for writing in! A skein is a way of selling yarn in which the yarn is wound into a large circle and then twisted onto itself. At Purl Soho, this is how almost all of our yarn is sold. Different yarn producers make skeins of different sizes. Some skeins are 50 grams, some are 00 grams, some are 113 grams, etc. For Mulberry Merino, we sell 100 gram skeins that have 247 yards. To see the information about this yarn and any other yarn that we sell, click on the Product Details tab on the product page for all of the details about the yarn.

Hello Seonaid,
Thanks for reaching out! I think this stitch sequence would be beautiful as a wrap. The only thing to not is that this scarf will work best with a yarn that has clear stitch definition. I would knit a swatch in the yarn that you wish to use to see how the pattern comes out once you are happy with the texture you will measure how many stitches per inch you are getting. You can calculate your cast on number by multiplying you stitches per inch by your desired length.

This pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches. For example 6 x 8 = 48 and 48 +1 = 49.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions.
-Marilla

Thanks for writing in! We do not have a video tutorial for this pattern. After the first row, every subsequent row will be knit 2 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, and then repeat this combination to the end of the row.

Hi, I’m a newbie knitter but fascinated by Sequence knitting! I’ve knitted a swatch for the above 6+1 sequence, slipping the first stitch as per the pattern. The swatch has worked out great although it took a bit of figuring out re cast on amount. I have another question re sequencing if you had a 4+3 for example. What would you do with those 3 stitches or would the specific pattern tell you? I’ve just seen snapshots of the book so just trying to get my ahead around the process! Many thanks!

Hello Vicki,
Thank you for writing us! I’m happy to hear you have successfully made your swatch- you are well on your way. In terms of cast on amounts your pattern will tell you where those three stitches go. Let me know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla

I made this pattern last year and it is lovely. I didn’t knit it as long as suggested because I joined the ends and made it into an infinity scarf. I have one skein left and was wondering if you think it would be enough for mittens. And do you have a pattern you would suggest that I could adapt to replicate the pattern of the broken garter stitch? If not I’ll figure it out! Thanks.

Hello Lydia,
Thank you for reaching out! One skein of Mulberry Merino will be plenty of yarn for a pair of mittens. Unfortunately we don’t currently have a pattern that would work well as a substitution for this stitch pattern, however I’m sure you can easily find a pattern to help guide you on Raverly.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla

Love the scarf pattern. Just wonder if I could use gradient worsted wt. yarn . I have 5 shades: black, dark gray, medium gray, light gray, and white. I would like to use them to make a gradient-like scarf blending in with each other. Might you have advice to accomplish this? Thank you.

Hello Diane,
Thank you for reaching out- this sounds like a beautiful scarf! You can certainly knit this stitch pattern with a worsted weight. You will just need to go up in needle size and down on the cast on number, depending on how wide you would like your scarf. If I were you I would just knit the first shade until it runs out and then just switch to the next color etc etc…
I would also recommend knitting a gauge swatch before jumping in to figure out what size needle to use.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla

What a beautiful pattern for a scarf, thank you so much for sharing this pattern. It is amazing how beautiful it is, the texture of the yarn makes it stunning. I can hardly wait to make it and touch the beauty of it from your yarn suggestions. Your garment selections are outstanding. hank you for sharing.

Hello Stella,
To slip one knit wise simply means that you take your right needle and put it into the stitch on the left as if it knit. Instead of knitting that stitch you simply lift the stitch off and place it on the right needle. You have now just slipped that stitch. Continue working as the pattern says.

Hi!
I’m a newbie knitter and I’d like to make this love,y scarf for a friend. If I can’t afford the merino yarn, could you tell me what weight yarn to use in order to get a similar finish?

Also, I’d like to have a colour block at either end so it’s a Black and Tan colour. Could you suggest how deep it would be and therefore whether I should get a 50g or 100g ball of the second colour please? I’m in the UK and we don’t get skeins here.

Thanks for writing in! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, you will be looking for a DK weight yarn with a gauge of 5.5 – 6.5 stitches per inch.

For color blocking the ends, you can make the blocks any length that you like. I find that a quarter or less of the overall length of the scarf works well. In this case, I would say about 15″ would be quite nice. For the yarn that we used, we are getting about 26″ per 100 grams. Your mileage may vary depending on the gauge you are getting and the yardage per 100 grams.

Hello, thank you for sharing this pattern. I am new to knitting and was wondering how to decide whether to use wooden versus metal knitting needles. Is one type better suited to different types of yarn or does it really not matter? Thanks.

Hello Deepti,
The type of needle you use is really a matter of preference. Wooden needles tend to grip the yarn more, this can be helpful if you are working with a slippery yarn like silk, they are also good if you are just starting out learning to knit. Metal needles I feel are slightly faster, and they allow the yarn to move more smoothly between the 2 needles.

Thanks for writing in! TO figure our your cast on, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know the number of stitches that you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by 9 inches wide, for example 5 stitches per inch x 9 inches wide would be 45 stitches. This pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 1 stitches. So pick a number that is closest to the number you just got that works for this formula. For example, 7 x 6 = 42 + 1 = 43, your cast on would be 43.

If you need further help figuring out your cast on once you know how many stitches per inch you are getting, we would be happy to help!
Cassy

Hello Rhonda,
Thank you for reaching out! You are correct- after slipping your first stitch you will continue to repeat k2, p1, k3 which will make you end up with 3 knits on each end of your scarf and 5 knit stitches between your purl stitches.
I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Marilla

Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! I think this would be a lovely stitch for a baby blanket! To figure out your cast on number, you will want to knit a gauge swatch with worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles in the Broken Garter stitch pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on any multiple of 6 plus 1.

Hello Micaela,
Thank you for reaching out! Blocking is completely optional, but will give your completed piece a more finished look. It evens out stitches and straightens your edges. For a more in-depth explanation of blocking check our our Tutorial.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla

Thanks for writing in! Although it is not necessary to add a border since the Broken Garter stitch lays flat on its own, you certainly can if you would like! You could either do plain garter stitch for an inch or two, or for more visual interest, work stockinette for a rolled edge before beginning the Broken Garter stitch.

Hello Vicki,
Thanks for reaching out! This sounds like a situation where you need to do a bit of experimenting, It is hard to say what something will look like until you test it out. If I were you I would gather some scrap yarn and try out some stripes and different needle sizes so you can visually see what is going to happen and if you like it or not.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla

I am so disappointed at the way my broken garter scarf is coming out. It does not look at all like your picture. I am an experienced knitter and am pretty sure that I am following the pattern correctly. I have taken a picture of what I have so far but can’t figure out how to attach it to this email.

Hi this pattern looks lovely and easy to follow. However I’m a little confused with the row 2 repeat. It says slip 1 knitwise, *k2 p1 k3* to last stitch then repeat from * to *. But if I’ve just done a k3 in the sequence do I follow with a k2 etc? Which means that it’s k2 p1 k3 or rather k5? I hope I’m making sense. Or do I put a p1 after the k3 ?

Thanks for reaching out! You are correct that you will essentially be knitting five stitches in a row. It seems a bit odd, but by writing the repeat this way, it lines up nicely with the beginning and end of each row!

Hello Patty,
Thank you for reaching out! This pattern is free and can be downloaded as a pdf or printed. If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.

Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.

You can purchase our Mulberry Merino in any of our beautiful colors to knit up this project!
Happy knitting,
Marilla

Thanks for reaching out! In this pattern, when you see the instructions to slip one stitch knitwise, this means to insert your needle as if you were going to knit the indicated stitch, but then just move it over to the right hand needle without actually knitting it.

Thanks for reaching out! We didn’t use quite the full three skeins of Mulberry Merino for our scarf, so I think you will have enough yarn! If your first skein made it to 13 inches, your finished length will be 65 inches. Our scarf measured 72 inches, but I think blocking and/or the weight of the finished scarf will easily stretch the scarf to the correct length.

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